The Best Films According to Andrew Sarris's The American Cinema

The Best Films According to Andrew Sarris's The American Cinema's icon

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In Andrew Sarris's The American Cinema, every director in the book has their full filmography listed, and Sarris italicizes the best films of each director. Here is the full collection of every film italicized in the book (with the exception of Out of the Past, which remains unitalicized likely as an error as he calls it Jacques Torneur's masterpiece).

The book has multiple sections, with who Sarris viewed as the pantheon directors at the top, and slowly dwindling in quality as the list goes down. However, there is merit to be found towards the bottom, as he lists a series of oddities, one-shots, and, at the time, newcomers, as well as subjects for further research.

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  1. 90 new

    Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

    1953, in 11 top lists Check
  2. 157 new

    The Love Parade

    1929, in 5 top lists Check
  3. 158 new

    Monte Carlo

    1930, in 2 top lists Check
  4. 159 new

    The Smiling Lieutenant

    1931, in 4 top lists Check
  5. 160 new

    One Hour with You

    1932, in 6 top lists Check
  6. 163 new

    The Merry Widow

    1934, in 4 top lists Check
  7. 203 new

    French Cancan

    1955, in 9 top lists Check
  8. 291 new

    A Star Is Born

    1954, in 13 top lists Check
  9. 364 new

    Duck Soup

    1933, in 24 top lists Check
  10. 373 new

    Cabin in the Sky

    1943, in 3 top lists Check
  11. 376 new

    Yolanda and the Thief

    1945, in 0 top lists Check
  12. 378 new

    The Pirate

    1948, in 3 top lists Check
  13. 380 new

    An American in Paris

    1951, in 18 top lists Check
  14. 382 new

    The Band Wagon

    1953, in 14 top lists Check
  15. 428 new

    Swing Time

    1936, in 13 top lists Check
  16. 455 new

    Hallelujah

    1929, in 4 top lists Check
  17. 471 new

    The Cock-Eyed World

    1929 — a.k.a. The Cockeyed World, in 0 top lists Check
  18. 485 new

    One Sunday Afternoon

    1948, in 0 top lists Check
  19. 513 new

    On the Town

    1949, in 10 top lists Check
  20. 514 new

    Singin' in the Rain

    1952, in 37 top lists Check
  21. 515 new

    Give a Girl a Break

    1953, in 0 top lists Check
  22. 516 new

    Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

    1954, in 8 top lists Check
  23. 517 new

    It's Always Fair Weather

    1955, in 3 top lists Check
  24. 518 new

    Funny Face

    1957, in 6 top lists Check
  25. 519 new

    The Pajama Game

    1957, in 3 top lists Check
  26. 521 new

    Damn Yankees

    1958, in 1 top list Check
  27. 524 new

    Some People

    1962, in 0 top lists Check
  28. 564 new

    Kid Galahad

    1962, in 0 top lists Check
  29. 626 new

    Artists and Models

    1955, in 5 top lists Check
  30. 627 new

    Hollywood or Bust

    1956, in 1 top list Check
  31. 685 new

    Le million

    1931 — a.k.a. Le Million, in 8 top lists Check
  32. 686 new

    À nous la liberté

    1931 — a.k.a. À Nous la Liberté, in 6 top lists Check
  33. 707 new

    Die 3 Groschen-Oper

    1931 — a.k.a. The 3 Penny Opera, in 8 top lists Check
  34. 770 new

    Applause

    1929, in 4 top lists Check
  35. 773 new

    Love Me Tonight

    1932, in 11 top lists Check
  36. 775 new

    The Gay Desperado

    1936, in 0 top lists Check
  37. 785 new

    Guys and Dolls

    1955, in 7 top lists Check
  38. 792 new

    Hallelujah I'm a Bum

    1933 — a.k.a. Hallelujah, I'm a Tramp, in 2 top lists Check
  39. 862 new

    Gold Diggers of 1935

    1935, in 1 top list Check
  40. 863 new

    Babes in Arms

    1939, in 0 top lists Check
  41. 864 new

    For Me and My Gal

    1942 — a.k.a. For Me and My Girl, in 1 top list Check
  42. 865 new

    Take Me Out to the Ball Game

    1949, in 0 top lists Check
  43. 868 new

    Close Harmony

    1929, in 0 top lists Check
  44. 869 new

    The Dance of Life

    1929, in 0 top lists Check
  45. 899 new

    Yankee Doodle Dandy

    1942, in 12 top lists Check
  46. 982 new

    Swing High, Swing Low

    1937, in 1 top list Check
  47. 987 new

    Lady in the Dark

    1944, in 0 top lists Check
  48. 997 new

    Gold Diggers of 1933

    1933, in 11 top lists Check
  49. 999 new

    Sweet Adeline

    1934, in 0 top lists Check
  50. 1011 new

    Anchors Aweigh

    1945, in 3 top lists Check
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Last updated on Sep 28, 2019;